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Journal of Pediatric Neurology 2018; 16(03): 171-184
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1605580
Review Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Neuroimaging in Pediatric Autoimmune Diseases

Giulia Longoni
1   Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2   Division of Neurology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
,
Brenda L. Banwell
3   Division of Child Neurology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
4   Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

25 January 2017

15 June 2017

Publication Date:
14 August 2017 (online)

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Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging plays an essential role in the diagnosis and management of pediatric central nervous system (CNS) autoimmune disorders. This article reviews the key clinical and conventional neuroimaging characteristics of the most frequent entities of the demyelinating disease spectrum, with a goal to inform and guide decisions in the clinical practice. We focus on acquired demyelinating syndromes and their differential diagnoses including mimics such as systemic inflammatory disorders with secondary CNS involvement. In the vast majority of disorders, no specific biomarker of disease is known and the final diagnosis is based on recognizable syndromic characteristics. Therefore, familiarity with the related neuroimaging patterns can improve a timely diagnosis of pediatric autoimmune diseases and prompt targeted therapeutic approach.

Keywords

MRI - neuroimaging - pediatric autoimmune diseases - multiple sclerosis - ADEM - MOG - NMOSD - vasculitis